Saint Patrick Lighting the Paschal Fire
Oil on canvas: 49" x 38" or 124 cm x 96 cm
When Patrick returned to Ireland in 432 A.D., he went to the
hill of Slane to light the paschal fire. On the parallel hill of
Tara, the High King's Court was in session. Only the King could
light the first fire of the Spring Equinox. If anyone dared to do
so, he would be executed. As Patrick was lighting the paschal
fire, the soldiers came to kill him. Instead, they listened to
him and eventually became Christians.